We can fill our heads with knowledge
but our hearts still feel the ache of emptiness
that haunts a lot
where nothing grows
we can say all the words that win the approval of the crowd
but in reality we have no idea how to walk with someone through their pain
and so we find ourselves sitting alone
surrounded by a hedge of dollar store flowers
we can wear the suit that looks good behind a pulpit
but we can’t fit our feet into the humble shoes that Jesus wore
and the naked truth is that we aren’t fully dressed
exposed in a plastic garden of our own creation
entangled with artificial colours that look like they are living
but pale in comparison to plants that are really growing
powered by the Spirit and the sun
and if we were to face the truth about our haven
we have created a vineyard with an appearance of life
but without the scent of divine breath
or the fruit that can only come from branches
that are actually attached to the main vine
the rows of grapes
that can only grow from water living within
drawn from roots
drinking from a deeper spring
and if we are honest we know there is something
that we can’t create
through our effort
and we are craving something real
something beyond words saying how good we feel
even as we wrestle with the consequences of creating our own world
where nothing is allowed
except what we can understand
and what we can control
Kelvin Bueckert 